Friday, 23 May 2014

In a bid to reach more Tanzanians, Akiba Commercial Bank (ACB) plans to open a branch in Mwanza Region this year.

ACB head of marketing and communications Fredrick Archard, said the opening of Mwanza outlet will enable the bank to have a total of 17 branches countrywide.
“This is inline with the government’s call for inclusive finance. Akiba Commercial Bank wants to see more people in the country access financial services,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He noted further that Mwanza is among the fastest growing regions in Tanzania pushed by investment attractions, hence the need for banking services by entrepreneurs. Tanzania has over 50 banks that are mostly concentrated in the commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, leaving majority of the citizens in rural areas unbanked.

The project has been included in the agency’s 2014/2015 operating plan.

The plan was recently unveiled by the regional manager for the agency Mr Amon Senkoro, who said they were looking for a consultant engineer who could build the transportation infrastructure from Kirumba to Luchelele.

“The process of finding a consultant engineer is underway and we have asked city authorities to survey areas where landing sites could be constructed as suggested by Temesa,” said Mr Senkoro.

Sunday, 11 May 2014

The government will employ 935 game wardens in a fresh bid to curb poaching, Tourism and Natural Resources Minister Lazaro Nyalandu said yesterday. The wardens will be recruited in two phases--435 in May and 500 in July.

The minister was speaking on the sidelines of a two-day national conference on anti-poaching and conservation of elephants that has drawn local and international conservationists. “What I am seeing at last is that our dream of stopping poaching is now becoming a reality,” said the minister.

The government will buy two helicopters to support the anti-poaching drive and has already received one--a Robertson 44. According to Mr Nyalandu, the ministry has received $5 million (about Sh8.5 billion) from the Howard Buffet Foundation to buy the helicopters.

Some of the money will be spent on hostels for 300 students at Pasiansi Wildlife College in Mwanza and establishing a Cheetah Protection Project. Mr Nyalandu also spoke of the government’s plan to use drones to fight poaching in the vast Selous Game Reserve. “We think that the drones will help us more in curbing poaching, especially in the Selous,” said the minister. He declared zero tolerance on corruption and incompetent personnel.

Vice President Mohamed Ghalib Bilal said the future of wildlife in the country, particularly elephants, depends on effective security measures to ensure their survival in their natural habitat.

Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Mwanza. One person was injured on Monday evening when an object, believed to be home-made bomb, exploded at an Evangelical Lutheran Church premises in Mwanza.

This occurred at 8.20pm at Makongoro Mission when a church worker, Ms Benadeta Alfred (25), was attending her duties in the church’s restrooms.

Reports from eyewitnesses say that Ms Alfred was trying to lift something which was in a gift wrapper that had been left in the room by an unknown person or persons exploded, injuring her on her face and legs.

Monday, 5 May 2014

Mwanza. Housemaids have asked the government and human rights organisations to help them reprimand employers violating labour laws, thus subjecting them to untold agony and frustration.

They have also demanded that they be trained to understand labour laws to help fight cruel employers who violate the laws with impunity.

Speaking separately during a seminar on leadership, the maids said they have been facing various challenges including denial of their fundamental rights, payment of salaries below the minimum standard set by the government.